oor opens, revealing in the interior of the shrine the
machinery of the miracle, a lever and cordage_] Look! 'Tis by pressing
this lever that one of ours, in a little while, will bring about the
miracle. I leave you in his place. At my signal the doors of the sacred
enclosure will open, and the people draw near the sanctuary. Listen to
them. And if you are moved to pity by their prayers, you--_you_ shall
give them the consoling lie for which they pray.

SATNI. There will be no miracle.

HIGH PRIEST. Watch and hear. [_He leaves Satni, who remains visible to
the audience. The stones roll back over the shrine. The High Priest
makes a sign, other priests appear_] All is ready?

A PRIEST. All.

HIGH PRIEST [_to another_] Listen.

_He whispers to him. The Priest bows and goes out. While
the crowd comes in later, this priest is seen to enter the
hiding-place right, where he stands watching Satni, dagger
in hand._

HIGH PRIEST. Now, let them come in.

_He makes a gesture and all disappear. A pitiable crowd
bursts into the temple, bustling, running, filling all the
empty spaces. Four men carry a litter on which is a
beautiful young woman clothed in precious stuffs. Mieris,
Yaouma, and all the characters of the play come on._

YOUNG WOMAN. Nearer, lay me nearer the goddess! She will drive forth the
evil spirit that will not let me move my legs.

_Cripples, people on crutches, creatures with hands or feet
wrapped in bandages crowd past her._

A BLIND GIRL [_to him who leads her_] When the stone rolls back and the
goddess appears, watch well her face, to tell me if she will not give me
back my sight.

_A paralytic drags himself in on his hands._

THE PARALYTIC. I would be quite near, quite near! In a little while I
shall walk.

_Two sons lead in their mother, who is mad, striving to calm
her. A mother, with her child in her arms, begs the crowd to
let her get near. A man, whose head is bandaged, and whose
eyes and mouth are mere holes, hustles his neighbors. Many
blind, and people borne on chairs._

A WOMAN. She will speak, she will say "yes." She will reveal herself
again as protectress of Egypt.

ANOTHER. They say not. They say that great calamities are in store for
us.

ANOTHER. If she answer not?

ANOTHER. Silence!

_Music. The Pharaoh's procession enters. He is conducted
down left where he remains invisible